Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, Bradford City and Bradford Districts CCGs are looking to commission through procurement, a community pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) service that meets the needs of our local population, and would welcome thoughts, ideas and information on how this service may be delivered as part of a Request for Information (RFI).

PR is an intrinsic part of the pathway for patients with Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease (COPD) and is the most effective therapy on the “Value Pyramid” after flu vaccination and smoking cessation with evidence on reducing unplanned admissions.

We need the service to be sufficiently flexible to take into account both the complexities surrounding COPD and also the fact that many people with COPD are working but would still benefit from PR.

Our current service suffers from poor uptake and completion, and we aim to increase these numbers by ensuring that the message regarding the importance of PR is spread widely, and those eligible are encouraged to take up the offer.

In July 2013 our data shows that out of 12,038 patients registered with COPD, there would be 3,354 who would be eligible for PR (MRC 3-5), out of these only 1,004 patients completed PR leaving 2,350 as the remaining demand.

However there may be more patients who would benefit from attending a maintenance class The education/information sessions will cover such things as breathing techniques, the benefits of exercise, coping with a chest infection, inhaled and other medication, Diet and Nutrition, healthy lifestyles and self-help techniques.

Although the idea of exercising if patients are breathless may seem strange if not actually frightening, but evidence shows that undertaking pulmonary rehabilitation improves the ability to exercise and as the program goes on should allow the individual to start walking greater distances and also start to feel less breathless in day to day activities.